A Merseyside teenager accused of murdering her mum will face a retrial after the jury was discharged after less than a day’s evidence.

Rebecca Durkin, 19, went on trial yesterday accused of murdering her 55-year-old mum Clancy Durkin at the home they shared on Guildford Road, Southport , in January.

She has admitted the manslaughter of her mum, who was found strangled, but prosecutors still want to try her on murder charges.

But on the second day of the trial the entire 12 person jury was discharged from giving a verdict after issues with two of their number.

One juror had failed to realise that he was the second cousin of the husband of the first witness to give evidence while another juror learned after the trial had opened that her mum had worked with Clancy Durkin at Southport and Formby District General Hospital where she was a cleaner.

Clancy Durkin

Jurors are prevented from sitting on trials to which they have some personal connection or previous outside knowledge.

Because they had been reduced to the minimum ten jurors so quickly Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, took the decision to have a new trial which may begin today or on Monday.